TSL3107: TEACHING WRITING SKILLS IN THE PRIMARY CLASSROOM

In a classroom environment, there are many variables that influence and contribute to learning. When creating and implementing a learning environment, it is very important that the teachers not only create a setting that promotes learning, but also take the time to understand each pupil. Classrooms are widely diverse and complex. Pupils learn differently and are at various developmental levels. Teachers who properly plan their lesson will be able to create an excellent learning environment for each pupil. ased on the lesson plan that I had prepared, I had executed the lesson in !ear " of #$ #ungai %nak, &lu alingian. I believe the teaching and learning strategies that I was

using in the lesson plan were actually 'uite good and creative. (espite the well constructed lesson plan, I was facing a few problems even before I was able to execute the lesson. The problems are ) out of ** pupil of my !ear " pupils are +I,&# pupils and this make it hard to execute all the activities that I had planned. %nother difficulty that I encounter during the lesson was the pupils were not as active and cooperative as usual. I found out later that they were afraid of the other teacher -$etua Panitia. who observed my lesson. (espite that, there are a few strength of this lesson plan which is very helpful during the lesson. The first strength is the teaching methods which is very pupils oriented. %ccording to Piaget, teachers should carefully assess the current stage of a child's cognitive development and only assign tasks for which the child is prepared. The child can then be given tasks that are tailored to their developmental level and are motivating.

Maureena Claire Foo TESL1-IPGKBL

TSL3107: TEACHING WRITING SKILLS IN THE PRIMARY CLASSROOM

esides that, the pupils are actually en/oying themselves during the lesson and they were able to pronounce and read the word cards shown to them correctly. 0y pupils were also able to discuss together and complete the group work that was given to them. %s in social constructivism theory, pupils usually excel when they are studying in group. Pupils can, with help from adults or children who are more advanced, master concepts and ideas that they cannot understand on their own ( Lev Vygotsky). #ome activities in the lesson plan such as during post1writing stage, I found that pupils were encouraged to think by themselves instead of waiting for their teacher to give them the answer. This would enable pupils to broaden their mind and the way they think. In cognitivism theory, pupils are encouraged to consciously think and talk about the language to increase their competence and performance. y being able to think by

themselves, pupils eventually will be able complete the tasks given during every steps of the lesson. ,ever the less, the pupils are actually able to achieve the ob/ectives in the lesson plan. They were able to achieve the ob/ectives because of the different level of exercises that has been prepared. esides due to the multi1level task, the pupils were also guided and the teacher repeatedly using the same passage, picture cards and word card. In the behaviourism theory, reinforcement is the cardinal motiator. The other weaknesses that I had encounter during executing this lesson was pupils level of understanding of 2nglish +anguage. %s I had mentioned earlier, only five of my were able to understand and converse in simple 2nglish +anguage but the other six were unable to converse in 2nglish and understand a minimum amount of 2nglish
Maureena Claire Foo TESL1-IPGKBL

TSL3107: TEACHING WRITING SKILLS IN THE PRIMARY CLASSROOM

+anguage. (ue to this factor, the six pupils became too dependent towards the other five pupils. %ccording to %braham 0aslos 3e perience unfolds naturally without striving or effort 3. 4or example, 4lorence 5elembai -+I,&# pupil. would wait for %myliana +uli to answered most of the 'uestions asked by the teacher. In order to encourage 4lorence to answer some of the 'uestions asked, I was using lots of the picture cards and word cards to help her to understand what was the 'uestions about. +ast but not least, the overall execution on the lesson has been a satisfying and interesting period. (espite all the hitches, the lesson was a success and pupils were able to en/oy their 2nglish language lesson. +astly, I would also like to thanks our beloved lecturer for her kind guidance and understanding.

Maureena Claire Foo TESL1-IPGKBL